OBX Learn Blog

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Jennifer Alexander , Harriet Diaz and 6 others posted in Stronger NC OBX - Outer Banks . Jennifer Alexander November 2 at 7:24am I'm going to go ahead and continue to bask in the glory of the first round of Mueller's indictments and the NC Special Master's forthcoming new maps, so today's CALL TO ACTION is a self care re-share. (Thanks to Wall of Us for this) Now that our eyes and ears are open, it is hard not to take every day at full sprint, diving into the news and engaging heart and mind with every upsetting event. At this frenetic pace, our stamina for resistance and empathy will weaken, and falter. We've said it from the start line, this is a marathon, not a sprint. To reach our goal, we need to preserve and replenish our energy. You know those marathon aid stations with glorious piles of Red Vines, PB&Js and shot glasses of Gatorade? Working bodies need replenishment. And so do our minds and souls. So, take time every day to preserve thyself so that you may continue the hard work of preserving thy country. This is Action 1 for a reason this week. Allow yourself to stop here if you need to recharge because all-of-us need to get to the finish line. Here are some suggestions: 1. Take a walk in a beautiful place. 2. If you are looking for something to listen to, check out this podcast from On Being, "Buoyancy Rather Than Burnout in Our Lives." (50 minutes) https://onbeing.org/programs/joan-halifax-buoyancy-rather-than-burnout-in-our-lives-oct2017/ 3. Read this, written by lawyer and activist Mirah Curzer, "How to stay outraged without losing your mind." (10 minutes) https://thecoffeelicious.com/how-to-stayoutraged-without-losing-your-mind-fc0c41aa68f3 How to #StayOutraged Without Losing Your Mind – The Coffeelicious Like Comment

I'm going to go ahead and continue to bask in the glory of the first round of Mueller's indictments and the NC Special Master's forthcoming new maps, so today's CALL TO ACTION is a self care re-share. (Thanks to Wall of Us for this) Now that our eyes and ears are open, it is hard not to take every day at full sprint, diving into the news and engaging heart and mind with every upsetting event. At this frenetic pace, our stamina for resistance and empathy will weaken, and falter. We've said it from the start line, this is a marathon, not a sprint. To reach our goal, we need to preserve and replenish our energy. You know those marathon aid stations with glorious piles of Red Vines, PB&Js and shot glasses of Gatorade? Working bodies need replenishment. And so do our minds and souls. So, take time every day to preserve thyself so that you may continue the hard work of preserving thy country. This is Action 1 for a reason this week. Allow yourself to stop here if you need to recharge because all-of-us need to get to the finish line.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Guidestar is out with a list of 10 New Years Resolutions for nonprofit board members and they are pretty good. I think my favorite is #5:

Go back to your vision over and over and over. It will keep you excited, focused, passionate, and results oriented. If you feel jaded or bored, ask yourself why you really care about this cause and this organization. You'll fan the flames of your passion and your energy. You'll feel deep personal satisfaction when you see the results your organization is creating in people's lives.

Take a look and see which ones have meaning for you and your relationship to your organization.
Ciao

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The Ocracoke Foundation has scheduled a marketing training session with a great instructor for Friday Jan. 15th. The session, Sharing Your Story Online, will be taught by Kivi Leroux Miller, one of the rising stars of nonprofit marketing. The cost is $20 and the program is open to all. This is a session that both nonprofits and small businesses could learn from. You can find all the info in the flyer which is quoted in the box below.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Here is a holiday present for all the nonprofit professionals and volunteers on the Outer Banks. The Duke Nonprofit Management Program will offer 4 classes this spring. They range from How to Start a Nonprofit to a primer on fund raising from a nationally known expert in the field. Here is the short version.

Fees for the classes are $98 for the three 6 hour classes and $113 for the 7 hour class. Scholarships are available from the Outer Banks Community Foundation, call (252) 261-8839 or visit obcf.org for more information and to apply. You can register or learn about the other course offerings and about the Duke Nonprofit Management program at the website. For information about the program on the Outer Banks call Bob Muller site coordinator at 252-207-5287 or visit obxlearn.org.
Additional support for the Outer Banks site is provided by the First Colony Inn Pamilico Jacks and Kelly's restuarants.
Here is the full course and instructor descriptions of the Spring courses.

Building Organizational Culture: From Roots to Fruit - Tony Fountain
Thurs. March 26th 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Materials Fee $5 Course ID 12875
How are you promoting your non-profit organization’s culture? How can we effectively understand and release the power of culture? What kind of culture are your employees building when you’re not around? Your organization’s culture is a critical factor in your overall success! In today’s ever changing business world, it is no longer effective to assume that employees and other stakeholders can read your Mission, Vision, & Value Statements and understand your purpose enough to become committed to your cause. This workshop will assist you in defining culture, discovering your organization’s culture, how to create and promote effective culture and leave with an action plan for positive change.
Tony Fountain is currently serving as President/CEO of multi-million dollar non-profit organization with 225 employees and has worked in the non-profit arena for over 23 years. Having served on numerous boards, he is an international accreditation surveyor and has completed the Duke University Advanced Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership program.

Profitable Persuasion: Universal Strategies for Effective Fundraising - David Rendall April 8th 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. no materials fee. Course ID 12876
Why do people give? Why do some people respond to certain appeals but not others? How can you use the answers to these questions to improve your fund development programs? There are certain influence strategies that apply to all fundraising situations. Whether you are beginning a direct mail campaign, a fundraising event or a capital project, your success depends on understanding a few critical aspects of human nature. In this session, you will learn how to harness the power of persuasion in order to achieve your fund development goals. You will discover the primary factors that motivate people and how you can apply that knowledge to your fundraising plans and activities. This session will also show you why some of your current activities work and why others are not as effective. This session is valuable because you can use what you learn in all aspects of the fundraising process, not just one particular activity.
David Rendall has a Doctor of Management degree from the University of Phoenix. He has founded and managed social enterprises for over 10 years and has conducted extensive research in this field. He is principal of Rendall & Associates, a consulting firm for organizations that integrate purpose and profit. Working lunch; please bring a bag lunch
1 hour networking lunch

Program Development for Grantwriters - Jack Smith
Tues. May 4th Materials Fee: $10 Course ID 12874
This workshop, intended for non-profit staff or board members with little or no grant-writing experience, will give you the confidence and know-how to develop a successful grant proposal. Writing a proposal for the first time can be a frustrating and overwhelming experience. Using common grant development formats, participants will proceed step-by-step through the development of a concept to a completed proposal, emphasizing hot topics and hot fields with funding sources; researching the documentation and statistics necessary for supporting a grant proposal; and identifyiing the characteristics of successful grant writers.
Jack Smith is a nationally recognized grant writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. His consulting practice has provided grant-writing services to more than 150 organizations. He also serves as adjunct instructor for professional development programs at the University of Southern Maine, the University of Georgia, and Emory University.
1 hour networking lunch

How to Start a Nonprofit - McAthur Davis
May 13th 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Materials Fee: $5 Course ID 12831
How to Start a Nonprofit will explore the following topics: What is a nonprofit and why should you want to create one, the ups and downs of nonprofits; how to organize a Board of Directors, the responsibilities of the Board and why the Board should be across section of the community; how to incorporate your nonprofit, how to apply for an Employer ID Number (EIN), and the importance of the organization's by-laws, mission statement and vision statement. An introduction to Form 1023 the 501(c)(3) application and a general understanding of the application.
As President /CEO of the Black United Fund of North Carolina, McArthur Davis has over thirteen years experience as the executive officer of 501 (c) (3) nonprofits. He has provided infrastructure and technical assistance to community, faith-based and other nonprofit organizations and groups in Guilford County. 1 hour networking lunch

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Upcoming January classes are Program Evaluation and the Revised IRS
990. We are processing registrations for classes through April. Be sure
to register early to ensure a seat is available for you.

January 14 & 21: Program Evaluation with Fran Butterfoss
Outcomes based evaluations are increasingly required by nonprofit
funders as verification that the nonprofits are indeed helping their
constituents. While we do not need to be experts, it is imperative that
we have an understanding of the process, data analysis and how to use
the results to make decisions about the program being evaluated. In
this two-day course learn ways to determine effective organizational
performance and results. Topics include: Basic concepts for determining
organizational performance; strategies for incorporating results;
program planning; program implementation; and justifying resource
requirements.

Your organization’s Form 990 is one of your most important documents.
It is the world’s window into your organization. The IRS, donors,
funders and the press review your Form 990. Get a handle on the new form
and its many new information requirements designed to enhance
transparency and accountability. In addition, you will learn the 10
commandments of board governance and explore the impact of new required
policies ranging from those addressing conflict of interest to
whistleblower. You will leave this course ready to ensure that your
organization’s policies are in compliance with the IRS.

If you have any questions regarding courses, please let me know.
Additional information may be found on our website atwww.tcc.edu/wd/academy.

Friday, October 16, 2009

The Duke Nonprofit Management Training program is offering the class “Grassroots Fundraising” with instructor Ruth Peebles on Thursday November 10 at 9:00 AM at The Nature Conservancy offices at Nags Head Woods. The class will run until 4:00 PM with an hour lunch break.
Perfect for the newcomer to fundraising, this course will take you through the most effective and successful methods of raising money. You will discover the nuts and bolts ideas and activities to help you fundraise. Learn about current trends in giving, annual giving programs, direct mail, prospecting new donors, and managing your donor base. You will be guided from "the ask" to the acknowledgment and will find that fundraising is a simple process anyone can learn.
Ruth Peebles, MPA has more than 18 years of hands-on-experience in nonprofit management, fundraising and development. She is the Founder and President of The INS Group (Innovative Nonprofit Solutions) providing consulting services for nonprofits, educational institutions, and faith-based institutions nationally.
The class fee is $98 and a $7 materials fee. Scholarships are available through the Outer Banks Community foundation.
Additional information including registration information is available at obxlearn.org or from Bob Muller at 252-207-5287. The Duke program will also offer the class Grant Proposals: Planning for Positive Results with instructor Amy Montgomery on Thurs. Nov 22.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Registration is now open for fall classes in the Duke Nonprofit Management Program. To register go to the Duke program site. For more information call Bob Muller @ 252-207-5287 or visit obxlearn.org Classes on the Outer Banks Include:

Grassroots Fundraising Ruth Peebles Class ID# 12530Perfect for the newcomer to fundraising, this course will take you through the most effective and successful methods of raising money. You will discover the nuts and bolts ideas and activities to help you fundraise. Learn about current trends in giving, annual giving programs, direct mail, prospecting new donors, and managing your donor base. You will be guided from "the ask" to the acknowledgment and will find that fundraising is a simple process anyone can learn. Ruth Peebles, MPA has more than 18 years of hands-on-experience in nonprofit management, fundraising and development. She is the Founder and President of The INS Group (Innovative Nonprofit Solutions) providing consulting services for nonprofits, educational institutions, and faith-based institutions nationally.1 hour networking lunchThursday November 10, 2009 9:00 AM - 4:00 PMThe Nature Conservancy Office at Nags Head Woods Education Pavilion, Kill Devil HillsEnrollment Fee: $ 98 6 hours Materials Fee: $7

Grant Proposals: Planning for Positive Results Amy Montgomery Class ID# 12529Does "grant writing" sound like a daunting task? Are you or could you be a grant writer? A grant writer is a passionate person on a mission to solve a problem or an unmet need. Successful grant writers know that writing is the easy part, especially if you have someone who will edit your work. Passion for your work is your number one tool to get funded. You know your target audience, what they need and how to help. With some solid research, careful and realistic planning, strong and strategic relationships, and a good editor, you can be a successful grant writer. Participants will finish this personalized course with a checklist and road map, definite Do’s and Don’ts, and completely convinced that they have what it takes to be a successful grant writer. Amy Montgomery earned her Master’s in Health Education from East Carolina University. Beginning her career in public health, Montgomery had to learn the ins and outs of getting grants to be able to fund important community health programs. With over 10 years of grant writing experience in the areas of public health, education, and human services, Montgomery has earned millions of dollars in grant funds for projects such as mobile dental services for children and affordable housing for teachers. Montgomery is currently the Executive Director of the Dare Education Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit.1 hour networking lunch Amy MontgomeryThursday, November 19, 2009 9:00 AM - 4:00 PMThe Nature Conservancy Office at Nags Head Woods Education Pavilion, Kill Devil HillsEnrollment Fee: $ 98 6 hours Materials Fee: $5